Match Reaction v Chelsea (neutral)

[I am invisible]

Yeah there's a nice little video of AMN on the offish site looking a million miles happier than he did earlier in the season amd saying he's loving it at RB and happy to play amywhere to get the minutes

I thought Arteta was waving his dick around too much but it's paid off, you can't argue with beating Citeh and Chelski to lift the cup

Good on all of 'em, though i'd still flog xhaka and mustafi while their reputations are no longer rock bottom, they're not good enough for where we want to go

Well we ain’t shifting Mustafi any time soon! He’s torn his hamstring off the bone, or something, so no one’s coming in for him. Kola and So Crates look like the obvious defensive casualties right now - 200k/wk between them for one guy who can’t pass or defend, and one who never plays.

Not sure where I stand with Xhaka now? I honestly don’t think he’s one of the problem players anymore, and I’ve been happy with how he’s been playing under Arteta, but then again if we bring in the CM I want then I don’t think he makes the starting XI, and 100k/wk is a lot to be paying a bench-warmer? Depending on who we bring in, I don’t think he’s an urgent problem.

[GP]

[I am invisible]

Laying the foundations was the most important thing for Arteta to do this season, and I think it's fair to say he has done that. He still has a HUGE job ahead of him but as you said, without the foundations and the right culture there's no point to anything else.

It won't be plain sailing but I'm looking forward to the journey we're on.

Oh God yeah - all of the same problems are still there. We might be getting the most out of what we have, but what we have is still riddled with volatile players that could self-destruct at any moment, and lacks anything to link the front and back halves of the team. There’s still financial issues, contractual issues and recruitment issues to deal with, and I think Arteta is still putting his team together, but at least he shouldn’t have to spend quite so much time putting out fires and coaxing / forcing the players to act like professionals next season. He won’t have to constantly look over his shoulders to make sure everyone is behaving.

[Xhaka Can’t]

I’m an old fucker, yet for over 20% of my life, Arsenal have been the FA Cup holders.

That is insane.

[Marc Overmars]

Auba was actually told to leave the base when collecting the cup but he took it anyway.

Made a right pigs ear of it.

[Globalgunner]

Well we ain’t shifting Mustafi any time soon! He’s torn his hamstring off the bone, or something, so no one’s coming in for him. Kola and So Crates look like the obvious defensive casualties right now - 200k/wk between them for one guy who can’t pass or defend, and one who never plays.

Not sure where I stand with Xhaka now? I honestly don’t think he’s one of the problem players anymore, and I’ve been happy with how he’s been playing under Arteta, but then again if we bring in the CM I want then I don’t think he makes the starting XI, and 100k/wk is a lot to be paying a bench-warmer? Depending on who we bring in, I don’t think he’s an urgent problem.

Lets not get carried away. Midfield is probably where our quality is lowest and he exemplifies it. Xhaka is what you have when you want to just survive in the top half of the EPL. You will never touch the top echelons of the game of anywhere with an immobile lump like Xhaka starting every game. The best Xhaka is like the worst Henderson. He is completely 1 dimensional. Lets give him the heave ho, not another extension. Its Partey time lets get Ivan Rakitic too if he is available.

[Mac76]

Lets not get carried away. Midfield is probably where our quality is lowest and he exemplifies it. Xhaka is what you have when you want to just survive in the top half of the EPL. You will never touch the top echelons of the game of anywhere with an immobile lump like Xhaka starting every game. The best Xhaka is like the worst Henderson. He is completely 1 dimensional. Lets give him the heave ho, not another extension. Its Partey time lets get Ivan Rakitic too if he is available.

[LDG]

I’m an old fucker, yet for over 20% of my life, Arsenal have been the FA Cup holders.

That is insane.

25% for me

[I am invisible]

Lets not get carried away. Midfield is probably where our quality is lowest and he exemplifies it. Xhaka is what you have when you want to just survive in the top half of the EPL. You will never touch the top echelons of the game of anywhere with an immobile lump like Xhaka starting every game. The best Xhaka is like the worst Henderson. He is completely 1 dimensional. Lets give him the heave ho, not another extension. Its Partey time lets get Ivan Rakitic too if he is available.

Agreed and agreed. Look, just because I don’t have quite the same animosity towards him as you guys, doesn’t mean I don’t want to upgrade. Like I said, he doesn’t get in my starting XI if we sign the players I want. He’s too one-footed and too immobile to be the engine for a top side.

If it were up to me I’d blow everything on CM this summer and leave the rest for another window: secure Ceballos any way we can, even if it’s another loan; bring in a dominant, athletic presence (Partey or someone like); bring in a playmaker; and bring Smith Rowe back into the first team. Do all of that and Xhaka is no longer that much of a problem - if he wants to stay and fight for his place then he’ll provide experienced cover and an option if we ever need that kind of deep passer, but if he wants guaranteed football elsewhere, or if we need to sell to cut costs or raise funds then that’s also fine. As long as the end result is that we’re not 100% reliant on him all of the live-long time then I’m easy either way.

Edit: should probably move this to the transfer thread, tbh

[I am invisible]

I’m an old fucker, yet for over 20% of my life, Arsenal have been the FA Cup holders.

That is insane.

Arsenal have now won 10% of all the FA Cups there’s ever been.